Description
This 2021 $20 fine silver coin presents a fascinating glimpse into the rich Inuit tradition of oral mythology and legends. Through the generations, elders have told and passed down stories that are entrusted to the next generation to tell and move forward through time. The story depicted on this coin by Nunatsiavut artist Jason Sikoak is the story of the Sea Goddess, also known as Nuliajuk; tossed into the ocean. Mintage is limited to 5,000. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The long-haired Inuk becomes half-woman and half-fish as she slips deeper beneath the waves, while her fingers take the form of seals that represent all marine mammals. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
Did you know?
The Sea Goddess is known by many different name across the four Inuit regions of Canada (Inuvialuit, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, Nunavut) that are collectively known as Inuit Nunangat. There are also different versions of her story Ð in one version, she marries a dog after rejecting other suitors. The Sea Goddess is a central figure in Inuit oral history and she continues to inspire artists today. Intergenerational learning plays an important role in maintaining cultural continuity in Inuit Nunangat, which has the youngest population in Canada - the median age is just 24.
